Re: [d@DCC] RE: Letter to the Financial Post re: Rockers sing the copyright blues

From: Neil Leyton <leyton _-at-_ fadingwaysmusic.com>
To: General Copyright Discussions <discuss (at) list.digital-copyright.ca>
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 2004 17:43:32 -0500
References: <459F05C5CBAB824BB3DD965CC92BBFEA049F0AC1@swan.spectrumsignal.com> <Pine.LNX.4.58.0411251724040.32114@calcutta.flora.ca>

This letter went out earlier today; I hope I spelled "barrage" properly. 
"barage?" Dunno.
N.

------------------------

The barrage of misinformation on this issue is astounding. The citizens 
of Canada are being LIED TO.

Many Canadian artists like myself, Danko Jones and the entire Fading 
Ways Records current artist roster are PRO-downloading. Downloading 
helps new artists get their music heard. These days we have largely been 
shut out of commercial radio play because of our lack of financial 
resources. Mr. Cochrane and Mr. Cuddy should get their facts straight 
when it comes to downloading and stop regurgitating CRIA memos. Mr. 
Cuddy's comment about "If you are a new artist and people want to hear 
your song, they just search for it on the Internet and pop it into their 
iPod" reveals that he is well aware that the internet can function as a 
great means of promotion for new artists. There is NOT a need for more 
control over downloading, there a NEED for freedom of choice when it 
comes to what business model an artist wants to chose. (Ie. Creative 
Commons, anyone?)

CRIA, their major-label bosses and WIPO would all have us believe that 
the answer lies in updating Canada's copyright act - nothing could be 
further from the truth: the suggested modifications to the act will send 
Canada spiraling into creative dark ages without the possibility of 
championing, in the future, home-grown talent. We will become enslaved 
to American Digital Rights Management code-is-law model, akin to the 
US's DMCA.

Mr. Henderson should, once and for all, stop claiming he speaks for 
"most Canadian musicians". He does not. Most Canadian musicians are NOT 
afforded a voice in our media outlets. Danko Jones was dropped by his 
label around the same time he spoke out against CRIA's lawsuit.

(Incidentally, I  remain available for further comments on this issue, 
but few publications seem interested in printing view-points that are 
different from CRIA's).

As for Mr. Cochrane's views on the third world, condescending as they 
were, they are easily dismissible. The third world owes no allegiance to 
the WTO or WIPO, and they are well aware that the prime motivation of 
multi-national corporations is EXPLOITATION, not local artistic development.

Life is a highway? Travel more.

Neil Leyton
Fading Ways Records Ltd.
www.fadingwaysmusic.com
416 721 3566

>
>  
>
>>The CP article seems to have run all over the place.
>>We need the papers to get lots of letters to the editor about it,
>>particularly as it is so outrageous.
>>    
>>
>
>  I was told in another email (name not mentioned unless they wish to be
>mentioned) that the following outlets carried the article.  If anyone has
>the time to find the URLs, this would be great.  If you send letters, 
>please let us know.  The more sample letters we see the more people may be 
>encouraged to send their own..
>
>
>The Moncton Times and Transcript: cunningn@timestranscript.com, glandry@canadaeast.com
>The Record (Waterloo Region): letters@therecord.com
>The Daily News (Halifax): letterstoeditor@hfxnews.ca
>The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon): spnews@SP.canwest.com
>New Brunswick Telegraph Journal: barry.ron@nbpub.com, glandry@canadaeast.com
>Toronto Star: lettertoed@thestar.ca
>The Halifax Chronicle-Herald: letters@herald.ca
>Ottawa Sun: oped@ott.sunpub.com, ann.marie.mcqueen@ott.sunpub.com
>The Guardian (Charlottetown): letters@theguardian.pe.ca
>Calgary Herald: letters@theherald.canwest.com
>Calgary Sun: callet@calgarysun.com
>Edmonton Journal: letters@thejournal.canwest.com
>Ottawa Citizen: letters@thecitizen.canwest.com
>The Leader-Post (Regina): letters@leaderpost.canwest.com
>WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: letters@freepress.mb.ca
>Kingston Whig-Standard: whiged@thewhig.com
>Vancouver Province : provletters@png.canwest.com
>Montreal Gazette: letters@thegazette.canwest.com
>Vancouver Sun: sunletters@png.canwest.com
>
>  
>


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